Only Fools and Horses legend's wife flooded with support after announcing funeral plans

The wife of actor John Challis was inundated with messages after she shared some news on social media. Carol Challis took to X on Monday and made a candid announcement. She detailed her funeral plans and admitted to being relieved it was finally done. John, who famously played Boycie in the beloved sitcom, died in 2021 aged 79, and was survived by Carol, whom he married in 1995. She often shares heartwarming tributes and sweet anecdotes of their time together on social media.

Taking to her account she penned: "Oh joy! I've just organised my funeral.I'm making my entrance to Whiter Shade of Pale and my exit to Dancing Queen. Thank God that's out of the way. Next....." Her 133,000 followers flocked to comment on the post as one penned: "Done ours already!"

Another remarked: "One less thing to worry about."

A third offered: "We had Whiter Shade for my Dad. It's a banger. Always gets me when I hear it."

While a fourth shared: "I've told my brother I want the Thunderbirds theme by the Royal Marines Band to come in to. My exit is my all time favourite song, Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor."

John starred in Only Fools And Horses alongside Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst for 22 years as second-hand car dealer Boycie before going on to star in the spin-off The Green Green Grass.

Aside from his role in Only Fools And Horses, John also portrayed Monty Staines from the seventh series onwards in the ITV sitcom Benidorm from 2015 to 2018.

In 2020, Challis released the Boycie in Belgrade documentary to uncover why the show is hugely popular in Serbia - so much so they made him the Freeman of Belgrade.

"Can't wait to find out what I can do, now [that] I'm a citizen of Serbia", he added.

The actor had cancelled his Only Fools and Boycie show tour due to ill health.

In September 2021, his family released a statement which read: "It is with heavy hearts that we bring you such sad news.

"Our dear friend and yours, John Challis, has died peacefully in his sleep, after a long battle with cancer."